Will Grier, Jalen Tolbert combine for Cowboys first TD of preseason

The first Cowboys touchdown of the exhibition season came with 13 seconds to before halftime, Saturday. And it happened just when fans were shaking their heads over this new offense.

But Will Grier to Jalen Tolbert woke the place up as Dallas cut the score to 14-7 to Jacksonville before intermission. Although exhibition games are pretty meaningless, the touchdown was meaningful to both Grier and Tolbert.

It was Tolbert’s first-ever touchdown for the Cowboys. And Grier, who is vying for second-team quarterback behind Dak Prescott, needed a highlight play. Grier found the weakness in the Jaguars two-deep zone as Tolbert caught a wide open touchdown.

It’s worth another look:

Right down the middle! 🙌#JAXvsDAL | 📺: @CBS11 & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/uOMTlJNE9X

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 12, 2023

At halftime, Mike McCarthy said in a Cowboys TV interview that he wanted to see Grier to “take the completions.” The former West Virginia star might’ve been looking for more spectacular plays as opposed to the routine ones that move the sticks. However, McCarthy said that Grier definitely got the offense going.

Grier continued his hot streak, leading the Cowboys to a field goal on the opening drive of the second half. However, he likely made McCarthy shake his head in disapproval. That’s because a penalty wiped away a Grier interception when the quarterback was going for a big pass rather than running for a few yards.

The Cowboys selected Tolbert in the third round of last year’s draft. He made one start and caught two passes for 12 yards. Meanwhile, Grier got to the league when the Panthers selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft. He played in two games during his three-year career in Carolina. The Cowboys signed him in 2021 as a free agent. But last year, he strained his groin. So when Prescott got hurt, Cooper Rush was the backup.

“I feel healthier than I did last year,” Grier told reporters this past week. “It’s a different time again. Last year was not up to me. I played the best I can and leave the rest to the good Lord.”

Grier got the majority of the snaps, Saturday, completing 22 of 31 passes for 199 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Rush, who started the game, completed 10 of his 12 passes for 83 yards.

McCarthy opted to keep his starters on the sidelines for the opening preseason game. That gave him an extended look at the younger players, including the top rookies. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson used his first-teamers in the first quarter. Trevor Lawrence and Christian Kirk combined for the first TD. Backup QB CJ Beathard then scored on a keeper to give the Jaguars a 14-0 cushion.